Universal closure device for bottles

ABSTRACT

A universal closure device for bottles, includes a number of external components, namely coaxial and concentric cylinders, which are connected together to define an external member or enclosure; the external member operating via tongues and a toroidal spring and being used for attachment to the lip of the bottle; and two internal components, namely a suitably conformed cylinder and a piston, operating by two springs. The piston further includes a head which is adapted to mate with a ring connected to the cylinder; the head ( 6   a ) freely sliding along an axial section which is limited by two collars at the top and the bottom. Assembly of the above components allows attachment thereof regardless of the diameter of the neck of the bottle and the height and shape of the bottle lip.

The invention relates to a universal closure device for bottles containing still or sparkling wines.

Uncorked bottles, particularly those containing still or sparkling wine, are known to be closed by hermetic operation:

-   -   inside the bottle neck,     -   on the neck lip,     -   outside the neck, thanks to the presence of the lip.

The invention belongs to the latter type.

The advantage achieved using the present device is that it can be hermetically attached to the bottle neck, regardless of the diameter and size of the lip.

The universal closure device of this invention is characterized by the content of the annexed claims.

These and other features will be more apparent from the following description of a few embodiments, which are shown by way of example and without limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded configuration of the universal closure device for bottles according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows the exploded configuration of FIG. 1, as viewed from one side,

FIG. 3 shows an A-A section of the device,

FIG. 4 shows the device in an assembled and operating configuration,

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 shows the device in a non operating configuration,

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 shows the device in a non operating configuration, adapted for insertion in a bottle having a higher lip,

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, numeral 1 generally designates a universal device for closing uncorked bottles, whereas FIG. 3 shows a section thereof taken along the axis line A-A of FIG. 4.

This device 1 is composed of a number of elements, namely:

-   -   three coaxial and concentric cylinders, designated by numerals         2, 3 and 4,     -   a counter-cylinder 5, which is also coaxial and concentric with         the cylinder 2,     -   a piston 6, which is coaxial with the above cylinders,     -   three springs 10, 20, 30.

An appropriate combination of the above elements allows the stopper to be hermetically attached to the neck of the bottle 50 (as shown in FIG. 4), regardless of the diameter and size of the lip.

Numeral 2 designated the external covering cylinder, in which two elastic tongues 15 are formed by suitable cuts, in slightly projecting and opposed positions and having a button-like operation.

The cylindrical body 2 has an inner ring 11 at about its median position, which is joined thereto by means of two strips 12.

The ring 11 is concentric with the associated cylinder 2 and has a hole (also concentric) for mating with the head 6 a of the piston 6, and adapted to be introduced in the bottle to be corked.

The head 6 a freely slides in the ring 11 along an axial section, which is limited by two collars 7 and 8 at the top and the bottom.

A seal 9 is provided under the bottom collar 8, facing towards the piston 6, to enhance the closing effect on the upper lip of the bottle.

Also, the above head 6 a has a seat on the side of the collar 7 to receive a first spring 10 connected to the cylinder designated by numeral 4.

Such cylinder 4 is the smallest of the assembly, and is contained in all the others.

The cylinder 4 (like the cylinder 3) is closed at its top and a spring 20 is provided thereupon, extending to the inner and upper wall of the cylinder 3, as described below.

The cylinder 4 also has two opposite side openings 4 b, which are adapted to allow insertion thereof between the above strips 12.

The edge of the cylinder 4 has a bell-shaped bottom portion, to effectively operate on an underlying toroidal spring 30, which is contained in the counter-cylinder designated with numeral 5 and connected to the cylinder 2 and adapted to close the present device 1.

Such counter cylinder 5 has a central opening for the passage of the above piston 6 and the bottle neck.

The counter cylinder 5 is joined to the cylinder 2 by means of adjustment threads.

As mentioned above, the intermediate cylinder 3 is closed at its top and has a seat 3 a on the closing surface, namely on the inner side, for receiving the spring 20 for connection with the cylinder 4.

The cylinder 3 also has opposed side openings for allowing insertion thereof between the strips 12; these apertures are shown in FIG. 2, and designated by 3 c.

Like the cylinder 2, the cylinder 3 also has two opposed elastic tongues 16 formed therein, which have a button-like operation and carry two projections allowing interaction with the tongues 15 of the cylinder 2, so that the cylinder 3 is in an inserted condition when its tongues 16 fit in the gap created for forming the tongues 15: this configuration is shown in FIG. 5.

In this condition, the cylinder 3 will be locked: as the external tongues 15 (of the cylinder 2) are pressed, they will compress inwards those 16 of the cylinder 3.

Pressure on the tongues 15 and 16, in combination with the action of springs 10 and 20 will cause the cylinder 3 to move up, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9.

The two combined springs 10 and 20 have a sealing action, as well as various other functions: their elasticity allows them to automatically fit the changing height of the bottle lip and the diameter of the bottle neck.

As the device 1 is pressed onto the bottle 50 to be corked, the upper cylinder 3 is moved down and the two elastic tongues 16 are stably set under the cylinder 2, whereas the spring 20 forces the cylinder 4 down to trap the neck of the bottle 50, thereby pressing the toroidal spring 30, and closes it hermetically by means of the seal 9 associated to the collar 8.

Thus, the bottle 50 is hermetically and stably sealed by a single operation.

A single operation, i.e. pressing two fingers upon the tongues 15 of the cylinder 3, will also be sufficient to uncork the bottle 50, as mentioned above.

Such lifted condition is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9.

As a result, as shown and described herein, the universal closure device 1 of this invention may be considered as substantially composed of two members:

-   -   an external box-like member 2, 3, 5, operating by means of the         tongues 15, 16 and the toroidal member 30, and being used for         attachment to the lip of the bottle 50;     -   an internal member 4, 6, operating by means of the two springs         10 and 20, for elastically providing the above attachment;         regardless of the diameter of the neck of the bottle 50, and the         height the shape of its lip, the device operates in a convenient         and safe manner.

The closure device 1 so composed may be actually considered universal, as it can be used independently on any bottle 50.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, if the bottle 50 has an enlarged lip, the possibility of adapting the position of the seal 9 by sliding the head 6 a of the piston 6 always allows attachment; FIG. 9 shows the piston abutting against the ring 11 by the collar 8, whereas abutment in the previous figures occurred by the collar 7.

It shall be further considered that the provision of threads for joining the cylinder 2 and the counter cylinder 5 together allows to firmly secure the device to a bottle, especially when operating with a bottle of sparkling wine: such action being accomplished by tightening the counter cylinder 5 onto the cylinder 2 to a varying extent. 

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A universal closure device for bottles, characterized in that it is composed of: External components (2, 3, 5), i.e. coaxial and concentric cylinders which are connected together to define an external member or enclosure; said external member operating by means of tongues (15 and 16) and a toroidal member (30), and being used for attachment to the lip of the bottle (50); Two internal components (4, 6), a suitably conformed cylinder (4) and a piston (6), operating by means of two springs (10) and (20), assembly of said components allows attachment thereof regardless of the diameter of the neck of the bottle (50) and the height and shape of the bottle lip.
 21. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the external covering cylinder (2), has two elastic tongues (15) in opposed positions and having a button-like operation.
 22. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the cylinder (2) has an inner ring (11) which is joined thereto by means of two strips (12).
 23. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the ring (11) is concentric with the associated cylinder (2) and has a hole, which is also concentric, for mating with the piston (6), said piston (6) being adapted to be introduced in the bottle (50) to be corked.
 24. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the piston (6) comprises an upper head (6 a) which is adapted to mate with the hole of the ring (11); said head (6 a) freely sliding along an axial section which is limited by two collars (7) and (8) at the top and the bottom.
 25. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that a seal (9) is placed under the bottom collar (8), facing towards the piston (6), to enhance the closing effect upon the upper lip of the bottle (50).
 26. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the head (6 a) has a seat on the side of the collar (7) to receive a first spring (10), said spring (10) operating in turn upon the cylinder (4).
 27. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the cylinder (4) is the smallest of the assembly, and is contained in all the others.
 28. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the cylinders (3 and 4) are closed at their tops.
 29. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the spring (20) is provided upon the cylinder (4), extending to the inner and upper wall of the cylinder (3).
 30. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the cylinder (4) has two opposite side openings (4 b), which are adapted to allow insertion thereof between the strips (12).
 31. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the edge of the cylinder (4) has a bell-shaped bottom portion, to effectively operate on the underlying toroidal spring (30).
 32. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the underlying toroidal spring (30) is contained in the counter cylinder, designated by numeral (5).
 33. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the counter-cylinder (5) is connected to the cylinder (2) and adapted to close the present device (1).
 34. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the counter-cylinder (5) has a central opening for the passage of the piston (6) and the neck of the bottle (50).
 35. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the counter-cylinder (5) is joined to the cylinder (2) by means of adjustment threads for firmly locking sparkling wine bottles (50).
 36. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the intermediate cylinder (3) is closed at its top and has a seat (3 a) on said closing surface, namely on the inner side, for receiving the spring (20) for connection with the cylinder (4).
 37. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that the cylinder (3) has opposite side openings (3 c), which are adapted to allow insertion thereof between the strips (12).
 38. A universal closure device for bottles according to claim 20, characterized in that two opposed elastic tongues (16) are formed on the skirt (3 d) of the cylinder (3), which have a button-like operation and carry two projections allowing interaction with the tongues (15) of the cylinder (2) concentric therewith. 